One piece coupler-aspirator-nozzle

ABSTRACT

A coupler-aspirator-nozzle is formed in one piece. Coupling means are provided for coupling to a propellant cartridge and a separate product container. The coupling means communicate with first and second flow passages which in turn communicate with a mixing chamber. The mixing chamber then communicates with a nozzle opening. Flow of the propellant through the mixing chamber aspirates the product through the second flow passage and into the mixing chamber. The product is mixed with the propellant in the mixing chamber and then is sprayed through the nozzle opening. An indexing guide is provided to prevent the coupleraspirator-nozzle from becoming disoriented.

0 United States Patent [151 3,674,212

Marand July 4, 1972 54] ONE PIECE COUPLER-ASPIRATOR- FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS NOZZLE 1,370,654 7/1964 France .239/307 [72] Inventor; Jean Ma -and, Norwalk C 89,652 6/1964 France ..239/307 1 Assigneei 8) Corporation Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher Examiner-lohn J. Love 221 Filed. July 29,1970

Att0rneyWenderoth, Lmd & Ponack [21] Appl. No.: 59,137

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl ..239/308, 239/434 A coupler-aspirator-nozzle is formed in one piece. Coupling [51] Int. Cl ..B05b 7/04 me n are provided for coupling to a propellant cartridge and [58] Field of Search ..239/307, 308,415.5,427,434 separate p u container The p g means communicate with first and second flow. passages which in turn com- 56 References Cited municate with a nitlixing ci1lamber. TheFrlnixing crhamber tlhen communicates wrt a nozz e opening. ow o t e prope ant UNITED STATES PATENTS through the mixing chamber aspirates the product through the second flow passage and into the mixing chamber. The Burgess et al product is mixed the p p l i the mixing chamber 3'478933 1/1969 Rouselot 239/308 X and then is S ta ed through the nozzle opening. An indexing P Y 3408Ol0 0/1968 Flfkm "239/308 guide is provided to prevent the coupler-aspirator-nozzle from iiiiii 1341323 3'? 5551532? arr mo..... 3,389,837 6/1968 Marand ..239/308 X 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures ONE PIECE COUPLER-ASPIRATOR-NO ZZLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved coupleraspirator and nozzle for use in a dispensing system of the type wherein the product or products are aspirated through the coupler-aspirator by a propellant which is housed in a propellant cartridge separate from the product or products.

More particularly, the present invention relates to such a device wherein the coupler-aspirator and nozzle are integrally formed into one piece.

This invention is related to the dispensing system disclosed in applicants copending applications:

Serial No. 43,417 ofJune 4, 1970 Serial No. 48,336 of June 22, 1970 Serial No. 50,394 of June 29, 1970 In these copending applications are disclosed dispensing systems of the type wherein a product or products are housed in a product container separate from the propellant. A coupler-aspirator is coupled to and positioned above the coupleraspirator. When the top of the propellant cartridge is depressed, both the valve thereof and the product container valve are opened, and the product or products are aspirated through the coupler-aspirator by the propellant. However, the coupler-aspirator disclosed in the said copending applications must be joined with a nozzle insert for the purpose of spraying the product. The provision of a separate nozzle and separate coupler-aspirator manifestly requires the manufacture of two separate items and the subsequent assembly thereof.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a one piece coupler-aspirator and nozzle for use in the type of dispensing system disclosed in the said copending applications.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a one piece coupler-aspirator and nozzle which may be inexpensively manufactured by routine molding techniques.

These objects are achieved in accordance with the present invention by the provision of a single integral coupler-aspirator and nozzle element. The element has a first chamber adapted to be coupled to the stern of a standard aerosol propellant cartridge and a second chamber adapted to be coupled to the stem of a product container valve. The first chamber communicates with a first flow passage which in turn communicates with an orifice of an integral nozzle. The second chamber communicates with a second flow passage which in turn communicates with a mixing chamber of the integral nozzle. The orifice communicates with the mixing chamber which then communicates with a nozzle opening. When the dispensing system is actuated, the propellant from the standard propellant cartridge then flows through the first chamber, the first flow passage, the orifice and into the mixing chamber. This flow of the propellant aspirates the product or products from the product container into the second chamber, the second flow passage and the mixing chamber. The product and propellant are thus mixed in the mixing chamber and are sprayed through the nozzle opening.

Other objects and features of the invention will be made clear by the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the novel coupler-aspiratornozzle of the present invention used in a dispensing system;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the novel coupler-aspirator-nozzle of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines III-III of FIG. 2.

With reference now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the type of dispensing system in which the novel coupler-aspirator-nozzle of the present invention is used will be described. A product container 1 is adapted to contain a product or products to be dispensed therefrom. Product container 1 may be made of any suitable or desirable material such as plastic or metal. A

product container valve 2 of any suitable design extends through the top of product container 1. Product container valve 2 contains suitable product flow passages (not shown) to provide communication of the product or products within product container 1 with the stem of the product container valve.

A coupler-aspirator-nozzle 3 consists of a body 30 and has first and second chambers 4 and 5, respectively, therein. Second chamber 5 is adapted to be coupled to the stem 2a of the product container valve 2. The first chamber 4 is adapted to be coupled to the stem 6 of a conventional aerosol valve 7 of a conventional aerosol propellant cartridge 8. Propellant cartridge 8 contains a suitable liquefied gas propellant 9. A dip tube 10 is provided in propellant cartridge 8, since the cartridge will normall be used in the inverted position and only vaporized propellant is desired. Product container l'is provided with a guide 11 which is adapted to fit in any conventional manner, such as a snap fit, over the top of the product container. Guide 11 acts to guide and laterally support propellant cartridge 8, as shown in FIG. 1. Coupler-aspirator-nozzle 3 sprays through a hole 12 in guide 15 The general operation of the dispenser shown in FIG. 1 will now be described. The operator grasps the unit generally around guide 11. Force is then applied by finger or thumb in the general direction of arrow 13. Since container 1, coupleraspirator-nozzle 3 and cartridge 8 are aligned, the force from the propellant cartridge 8 causes aerosol valve 11 to be opened and also pushes down the coupler-aspirator-nozzle 3. This force is transferred to the stem 2a of the product container valve 2, thereby causing valve 2 to be opened. Thus, it will be apparent that as propellant cartridge 8 is depressed, both the aerosol valve and the product container valve are opened. Only force sufficient to open the stiffer of these two valves is required. When both valves are opened, the propellant will aspirate the product through the coupler-aspiratornozzle.

With reference now to FIGS. 2 and v3 of the drawings, the novel coupler-aspirator-nozzle of the present invention will be described in more detail. The first chamber 4 and second chamber 5 of the coupler-aspirator-nozzle 3 communicate with first and second flow passages 14 and 15, respectively. First flow passage 14 has widened portion 16, and second flow passage 15 has a widened portion 17 to aid in the passage of the propellant and product, respectively, from the first and second chambers. First flow passage 14 communicates with an orifice l8. Orifice 18 communicates with one end of a mixing chamber 19. Second flow passage 15 communicates with the mixing chamber 19. The other end of the mixing chamber 19 communicates with a nozzle opening 20. It will be apparent that the orientation of orifice l8, mixing chamber 19 and nozzle opening 20 cooperate to form a Ven'turi nozzle.

As shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the body 3a of the coupler-aspirator-nozzle 3 is generally in the form of a cylinder with portions thereof cut away to form opposite longitudinal flat surfaces 3b and 3c. Indexing guides 21 and 22 are provided for preventing the coupler-aspirator-nozzle from being inadvertently moved from orientation with hole 12. Indexing guides 21 and 22 each have flap portions 210 and 22a, respectively, and diverging portions 21b and 22b, respectively. Flap portions 21a and 22b are adapted to fit against surfaces 3c and 3b, respectively, of body 3a. The ends of diverging portions 21b and 2212 may conveniently be attached to the inner surface of guide 11. Thus, it will be apparent that coupler-aspirator-nozzle 3 may not be rotated or disoriented with relation to hole 12 once the the unit has been assembled. This arrangement manifestly insures that product sprayed from nozzle 20 will always be directed through hole 12 in the guide 11. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many variations of the arrangement of indexing guides 21 and 22 are possible. For instance, flap portions 21a and 22a could be attached to surfaces 30 and 3b, respectively, and the ends of diverging portions 21b and 22b could be dimensioned to snugly contact the inner surface of guide 11. This arrangement would of course likewise provide the desired result, i.e. preventing disorientation of the coupler-aspirator-nozzle with respect to hole 12. It is to be further understood that the general configuration of body 3a is not limited as above described. For instance, body 3a could be in the form of any polygon, such as a rectangle. It is to be even further understood that the specific configuration of indexing guides 21 and 22 may be modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.

it is to be further understood that the coupler-aspirator-nozzle 3 can be made of any convenient or desirable material such as plastic. The coupler-aspirator-nozzle 3 can easily be made by conventional molding techniques, thus, making possible the provision of such device at a low cost. For instance, the novel coupler-aspirator-nozzle shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be made in a single molding step, by merely employing the use of three simple molding pins.

it is also to be understood, that the coupling means of the coupler-aspirator-nozzle of the present invention may be male rather than female as illustrated in the drawings. This of course, would be the case when the valves of the product container or the propellant cartridge were female, rather than male.

The operation of a dispenser employing the novel coupleraspirator-nozzle above discussed will now be described in more detail. As propellant cartridge 8 is depressed, both the propellant cartridge valve and the product container valve are opened. When this occurs, the propellant from the cartridge 8 is free to flow through the stem 6 into first chamber 4, first flow passage 14, orifice l8 and mixing chamber 19. The flow of the propellant through mixing chamber 19 will aspirate the product through the product container valve and into second chamber 5, second flow passage and mixing chamber 19. It will be apparent that the product and propellant are mixed in mixing chamber 19 and are then sprayed therefrom through nozzle opening 20.

It is to be understood that any standard propellant cartridge may be used. The cartridge need not be specially designed with regard to the quantity of the product contained in the unit. When the propellant is exhausted, it need merely be replaced by another standard propellant cartridge. Additionally, when the products are exhausted, and when some of the propellant remains, the propellant cartridge may be transferred to a new product dispenser. Thus, it is apparent that the system in accordance with the present invention eliminates waste of both the product and the propellant.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, such description is intended to be illustrative only, and not restrictive, since many details of the construction of the invention may be altered or modified without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A one-piece coupler-aspirator-nozzle for use in a dispensing system of the type wherein at least one product is aspirated through said coupler-aspirator-nozzle by a propellant housed in a cartridge separate from and positioned above and vertically aligned with said product; said coupler-aspirator-nozzle comprising a body having top and bottom ends; a first coupling chamber communicating with said top end and adapted to couple to said propellant; a second coupling chamber communicating with said bottom end and adapted to couple to said product, said first coupling chamber being positioned above and substantially vertically aligned with said second coupling chamber; a Venturi nozzle extending transversely across said body between said first and second coupling chambers, said Venturi nozzle including a nozzle opening, a mixing chamber communicating with said nozzle opening, and an orifice communicating with said mixing chamber; a first vertical flow passage communicating said first coupling chamber with said orifice; and a second vertical flow passage communicating said second coupling chamber with said mixing chamber.

2. A one-piece coupler-aspirator-nozzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second flow passa es have widened portions therein to aid in the passage 0 propellant and product, respectively, therethrough.

3. A one-piece coupler-aspirator-nozzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body has longitudinal flat surfaces thereon adapted to be engaged by indexing guide means for preventing said coupler-aspirator-nozzle from becoming disoriented.

4. A one-piece coupler-aspirator-nozzle as claimed in claim 3 wherein said product is housed in a container which has a product valve coupled to said second coupling chamber, and further comprising guide means fitting around and extending above said container for providing lateral support for said car tridge, said guide means having an opening therein through which said product is sprayed by said coupler-aspirator-nozzle, said indexing guide means being positioned on the inner surface of said guide means.

5. A one-piece coupler-aspirator-nozzle as claimed in claim 4, wherein said indexing guide means comprise a pair of indexing guides, each having a flap portion adapted to engage one of said flat surfaces and a diverging portion attached to the inner surface ofsaid guide. 

1. A one-piece coupler-aspirator-nozzle for use in a dispensing system of the type wherein at least one product is aspirated through said coupler-aspirator-nozzle by a propellant housed in a cartridge separate from and positioned above and vertically aligned with said product; said coupler-aspirator-nozzle comprising a body having top and bottom ends; a first coupling chamber communicating with said top end and adapted to couple to said propellant; a second coupling chamber communicating with said bottom end and adapted to couple to said product, said first coupling chamber being positioned above and substantially vertically aligned with said second coupling chamber; a Venturi nozzle extending transversely across said body between said first and second coupling chambers, said Venturi nozzle including a nozzle opening, a mixing chamber communicating with said nozzle opening, and an orifice communicating with said mixing chamber; a first vertical flow passage communicating said first coupling chamber with said orifice; and a second vertical flow passage communicating said second coupling chamber with said mixing chamber.
 2. A one-piece coupler-aspirator-nozzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second flow passages have widened portions therein to aid in the passage of propellant and product, respectively, therethrough.
 3. A one-piece coupler-aspirator-nozzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body has longitudinal flat surfaces thereon adapted to be engaged by indexing guide means for preventing said coupler-aspirator-nozzle from becoming disoriented.
 4. A one-piece coupler-aspirator-nozzle as claimed in claim 3 wherein said product is housed in a container which has a product valve coupled to said second coupling chamber, and further comprising guide means fitting around and extending above said container for providing lateral support for said cartridge, said guide means having an opening therein through which said product is sprayed by said coupler-aspirator-nozzle, said indexing guide means being positioned on the inner surface of said guide means.
 5. A one-piece coupler-aspirator-nozzle as claimed in claim 4, wherein said indexing guide means comprise a pair of indexing guides, each having a flap portion adapted to engage one of said flat surfaces and a diverging portion attached to the inner surface of said guide. 